Definitive Audiophile pressings

What did I miss? We’ve all been insufferable audio dorks gushing over AAA pressings calling them superior and now it’s being revealed that all MoFi pressings are actually digital sourced?


Am I close?
 
Ghost said:
What did I miss? We’ve all been insufferable audio dorks gushing over AAA pressings calling them superior and now it’s being revealed that all MoFi pressings are actually digital sourced?


Am I close?
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It's been speculated by a bunch of talking heads, with zero evidence to back their claims; that there is potentially a digital step within MoFi's process. no one has any clue but a bunch of audiophiles that subscribe to the tenet that all analogue is best and digital is trash have had their beliefs shaken.
 
TenderLovingKiller® said:
It's been speculated by a bunch of talking heads, with zero evidence to back their claims; that there is potentially a digital step within MoFi's process. no one has any clue but a bunch of audiophiles that subscribe to the tenet that all analogue is best and digital is trash have had their beliefs shaken.
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(Waiting for the massive MoFi fire sales on the Cogs) 😉
 
TenderLovingKiller® said:
It's been speculated by a bunch of talking heads, with zero evidence to back their claims; that there is potentially a digital step within MoFi's process. no one has any clue but a bunch of audiophiles that subscribe to the tenet that all analogue is best and digital is trash have had their beliefs shaken.
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Was the 40,000 MJ Thriller One-steps the catalyst for this whole reaction?
 
TenderLovingKiller® said:
Yeah, I think that is probably where the speculation started. The logistics of the One Step process would mean MoFi would be running those original master tapes ragged if they had to keep recutting stampers.
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Maybe my ignorance is shining through or the snake oil has confused me, but couldn't they make an exact replica of the master tape without degradation onto another tape and then drive that one to death? Or for an album like Thriller, I'd imagine there are a ton of safety analog copies of the original tapes. I could easily see one of those safeties being used and if it was made simultaneously than it would be an original master recording?

Or use the lacquers for more than one set of converts (which I take it is the one-step lingo for the stamper)?

I don't see how you couldn't make a gazillion copies of an analog recording at minimal risk to the tape, the expense another thing of course.

And how in the hell are they selling 40,000 copies at $100 a pop for an album that everyone who wants it has it (or has passed by budget friendly copies of) and with a decent amount of people who refuse to buy due to the artist's sordid past
 
wmeugene said:
Maybe my ignorance is shining through or the snake oil has confused me, but couldn't they make an exact replica of the master tape without degradation onto another tape and then drive that one to death? Or for an album like Thriller, I'd imagine there are a ton of safety analog copies of the original tapes. I could easily see one of those safeties being used and if it was made simultaneously than it would be an original master recording?

Or use the lacquers for more than one set of converts (which I take it is the one-step lingo for the stamper)?

I don't see how you couldn't make a gazillion copies of an analog recording at minimal risk to the tape, the expense another thing of course.

And how in the hell are they selling 40,000 copies at $100 a pop for an album that everyone who wants it has it (or has passed by budget friendly copies of) and with a decent amount of people who refuse to buy due to the artist's sordid past
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Supposedly when you copy analog tape there is some measure (however small) of degradation of quality, so that is why people specify original master tapes. Iirc, it is called generation loss. I don't think setups where they made multiple identical copies of the master tape upon its original creation are typical.

The lacquer itself is plated to create the initial metalwork. Unless they have discovered a new way to preserve the lacquer, it is typically destroyed after the metal negative is removed.

Agree on 40k seeming nuts at that price.
 
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Yeah, basically there is only 1 master tape, everything else is a copy.
wmeugene said:
Maybe my ignorance is shining through or the snake oil has confused me, but couldn't they make an exact replica of the master tape without degradation onto another tape and then drive that one to death? Or for an album like Thriller, I'd imagine there are a ton of safety analog copies of the original tapes. I could easily see one of those safeties being used and if it was made simultaneously than it would be an original master recording?

Or use the lacquers for more than one set of converts (which I take it is the one-step lingo for the stamper)?

I don't see how you couldn't make a gazillion copies of an analog recording at minimal risk to the tape, the expense another thing of course.

And how in the hell are they selling 40,000 copies at $100 a pop for an album that everyone who wants it has it (or has passed by budget friendly copies of) and with a decent amount of people who refuse to buy due to the artist's sordid past
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dhodo said:
Supposedly when you copy analog tape there is some measure (however small) of degradation of quality, so that is why people specify original master tapes. Iirc, it is called generation loss. I don't think setups where they made multiple identical copies of the master tape upon its original creation are typical.

The lacquer itself is plated to create the initial metalwork. Unless they have discovered a new way to preserve the lacquer, it is typically destroyed after the metal negative is removed.

Agree on 40k seeming nuts at that price.
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But what even is the original master tape of an album that sold literally millions of vinyl copies?
 
JonnyH said:
But what even is the original master tape of an album that sold literally millions of vinyl copies?
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People get too hung up on this.

A master is already second generation at least, except for 2 track recordings mixed directly. The true first gen tapes are the multitracks. Never heard anybody complain about that tape degredation.

Tons of copies were run off the master, straight 1:1 duplicates sent to each territory for pressing and distribution. Many of those tapes greatly exceed the first master sonically today. A tape used twice is usually much better than one used 100 times.The degredation from use IMO far exceeds second or third generational degredation.

When something says direct from the master tape, AAA all the way through, I expect it to be so, but what is sent as the master tape is what is currently being used and considered the master. There are many masters that have been used enough that the true master tape is no longer playable. If the tape has been baked, as very many were when first being transferred to CD, it is probably not in good shape now.

For example, the master of Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage is unplayable. For the past 10 years, a second gen tape has been considered the master. Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled master tape has long ago crumbled. The first Doors album - ditto, way before the AP 45 remaster. And many, many others.

So today, best available analog source is the right way to go. If it is AAA from the best tape, who cares if it is the true, one and only master tape - when that tape has been played so many times it sounds like mush?

Thriller must have had literally hundreds of copies taken from the master.

But 40,000 one-steps? No way. No one will cut that many identical lacquers to meet that number.

Not that I care. Never bought a One-Step, and for sure, would not buy anything Michael Jackson.
 
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Not to derail the talk of controversies... been fun keeping up with this while out of town. 🍿

But I wanted to share this find with you all. Came across a minty fresh 1985 canadian first pressing while in Montreal last week. This thing is an absolute beauty. Quiet like a japanese pressing, great dynamics, lush vocals and deep low end. Not sure anything can top this... A little bit of ringwear on the jacket but otherwise true NM media. Lucked out on this.

Leonard Cohen - Various Positions

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